UNC AD releases statement about P.J. Hairston

UNC AD releases statement about P.J. Hairston

North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham says the school is gathering information on potential improper conduct by members of the men's basketball team a month after the drug arrest of leading scorer P.J. Hairston.

Cunningham's statement Wednesday didn't name any player specifically. He says he and coach Roy Williams "will support the appropriate disciplinary measures" for any player if warranted at the completion of the university's investigation.

The school started gathering information after Hairston was arrested in June during a license checkpoint and charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. He was driving a rented vehicle linked to a convicted felon facing pending drug charges. Hairston is scheduled for an August court hearing.

Cunningham says the school is working to "bring these matters to resolution as soon as possible."

“The athletic department compliance staff and I are fully aware of recent media accounts related to our men’s basketball team. We take these matters very seriously and are looking into these reports and the inferences they contain with all due diligence. It is my practice not to comment on the individuals involved or the details surrounding these reports until we have sufficient understanding of the facts involved. We are still gathering information, learning information from other sources, and we will not comment until we have a strong grasp of each individual situation. Where the facts show mistakes in judgment and/or actions, Coach (Roy) Williams will take and I will support the appropriate disciplinary measures.

"The integrity of the University of North Carolina is of paramount concern to all of us and is the principle on which Coach Williams and the athletic department operate each and every day. The most responsible course of action, however, is to withhold judgment and comment until we are confident we have the facts to do so. I appreciate everyone’s understanding of that and we will bring these matters to resolution as soon as possible.”

Copyright 2013 by WCTI12. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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